Miami Pols Want Their Promised Light Rail

It takes a little more than one hour for an express bus to travel 20 miles along the busway stretching down south Miami-Dade County. Politicians representing cities along that route want transit trips to speed up. Specifically, they want a light-rail line that would cost an estimated $1.5 billion to build.

County Mayor Carlos Giménez thinks that is far too expensive. During his reelection campaign last year, he released videos showing his support for expanding Metrorail. But now he wants to spend less — and put $115 million into a bus rapid transit system on the busway.

“My hope is a train would be warranted,” says Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava, referring to an ongoing study on options for improving busway transit. Her district covers most of the busway.